MEET
Lino Damião
Lino Damião, born in Luanda, Angola in 1977, is a prominent figure in contemporary Angolan art, whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, serigraphy, and photography. Encouraged by his father from a young age, Lino began creating art early in life and received his first national recognition in 1989, winning the Painting Prize from the National Union of Plastic Artists (UNAP).
Over the decades, Lino has developed a distinctive artistic voice rooted in the urban experience of Luanda, while expanding globally through exhibitions in Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States. His work combines vibrant colour palettes with bold contours and layered social narratives, exploring themes such as identity, freedom, cultural memory, and the evolving nature of African cities.
Notable solo and group exhibitions include the 1st Luanda Triennale (2007), Lisbon Contemporary Art Fair (2010), Rota das Letras in Macau (2012), and "Traces" at Camões Cultural Centre in Luanda (2016). His pieces are held in numerous public and private collections around the world.
In parallel to his visual practice, Lino has collaborated since 1992 with the jjjazz production company in Luanda, curating events that fuse jazz music, painting, and photography, reinforcing his role as both artist and cultural mediator.
With a career that bridges artistic disciplines and geographies, Lino Damião remains a vital voice in the African contemporary art scene, consistently using his practice to document, reflect, and reimagine the socio-political realities of his time.
